Find the perfect things to do in Houston this weekend with our Houston Weekend Guide for Thursday, December 4 to Sunday, December 7, 2014.
[quote_box_right]Weekend Shortcuts
Sunday, December 7[/quote_box_right]December is upon us in full swing with holiday performances, the holiday edition of the First Saturday Arts Market in the Heights, the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Lighting and Holiday Celebration and much more. Season-long events and attractions like Zoo Lights, Bruce Munro’s Field of Lights at Discovery Green, the Hermann Park Holiday Train, The Ice at Discovery Green and Ice Land Ice Sculptures with SpongeBob SquarePants at Galveston’s Moody Gardens continue to appeal.
And there’s a lot more great stuff to do in Houston this weekend, including the non-holiday variety. Check it out all of our favorites in our full Weekend Guide below.
Things to Do All Weekend
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See your ad here The Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Hobby Center | Starts Friday – Experience the Rockettes high kicks at The Radio City Christmas Spectacular performed at the Hobby Center this holiday season. Times vary. Tickets start at $40, but you may find cheaper or better tickets on TicketNetwork’s resale site.
- A Disco Christmas Carol at Red Door Theatre | Starts Friday – See the ghosts of Christmas Boogie Past at this updated musical take on the classic story of A Christmas Carol. $15; $12 students; $10 seniors and children under 12. 7:30pm Friday; 3:30pm and 7:30pm Saturday; 3:30pm Sunday.
- A Steampunk Christmas Carol by Stage Door, Inc. | Friday and Saturday – Catch a quirky steampunk take on Dickens’ classic Victorian holiday tale about Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, Tiny Tim and the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. $15; discounted $7.50 tickets available.
- Tamale Festival Houston in the East End | Friday to Saturday – Determine who has the best tamales in H-town at the Tamale Festival Houston. Held in the East End, this festival features a tamale eating contest, arts and crafts, live music and kids activities. Tickets start at $7.50. 5pm to 10pm Friday; noon to 9pm Saturday.
- Dickens on The Strand in Galveston | Friday to Sunday – Go back in time to experience Christmas in 19th century Victorian London at this annual festival on Galveston Island. $12 in advance; $6 for children aged 7-12; tickets increase by $2 at the door. 5pm to 9pm Friday; 10am to 9pm Saturday; noon to 6pm Sunday.
- Making Spirits Bright at the Heinen Theatre in Midtown | Saturday and Sunday – The Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston and The Bayou City Women’s Chorus join forced to perform as The Bayou City Chorale Iin a program featurng holiday favorites, breathtaking classics and outrageous surprises. $20 to $40; limited discounted $10 to $20 tickets available.
- Traditions Transfigured: The Noh Masks of Bidou Yamaguchi at Asia Society Texas Center | FREE | Daily – Get a first-hand look at the exquisite art pieces inspired by and expanded from Japan’s dramatic Noh theater tradition. Asia Society Texas Center is offering free admission to the exhibit for the month of December.
- Family Activities inside the Loop from BigKidSmallCity | Daily – Find events, recommendations and family-friendly activities from our favorite Houston mom-in-the-know Jill Jarvis of BigKidSmallCity.
- Houston Texans Tickets on Sale | Sponsored – Score tickets to Texans home games. Don’t miss a game and grab hard-to-get seats on TicketNetwork’s resale market.
Thursday, December 4, 2014
- Mid Main First Thursday – Eat, shop and rock in Midtown’s lively stretch of Main Street, with drinks and music in the Art Garden and specials and freebies at local shops and restuarants. $5 donation to Houston Tomorrow for entry into the Art Garden. 5pm to 10pm.
- Schmeckenfest in La Grange | FREE – Sample hot cider from various shop owners at Schmuckenfest in La Grange while enjoying music, treats sold by local nonprofit organizations and a visit from Santa. 5pm to 8pm.
- Happy Hour Thursday at MFAH | FREE to attend – Browse the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and enjoy a cash bar, local DJ and food from Ladybird Food Truck. 6pm to 8pm.
- Open House at Culinary Institute LeNôtre | FREE – Learn about your options for starting a career in the culinary arts with a tour of the school, presentation and a tasting session. To RSVP, send an email to [email protected]. 6:30pm.
- Touring Taste of Dance Salad Festival Film Premiere at MFAH | FREE – See the film debut of great performances from the 2014 festival, including Paris Opéra Ballet, Beijing Dance/LDTX, Royal Danish Ballet and Norwegian National Ballet. A reception follows the film. 7pm.
- Jerrod Niemann in Concert at the House of Blues – Country singer and songwriter Jerrod Niemann, known for his hits “Lover, Lover” (a cover of Sonia Dada’s “You Don’t Treat Me No Good“) and the recent “Drink to That All Night” performs in Downtown Houston. Chris Lane opens. $26; limited discounted $10 tickets available. 7pm.
- Holly Jolly Jingle at Cynthia Woods | FREE – Head to The Woodlands for a concert full of holiday cheer. Arrive early for pre-concert activities like visiting with Frosty, playing in the snow, and making arts and crafts. 7pm.
- Ulysses, Home: A Panel about PTSD | FREE – Take part in a panel discussion about post-traumatic stress disorder at The Jung Center. 7pm to 8:30pm.
- Trace Adkins in Concert at Stafford Centre – See Trace Adkins perform songs from The King’s Gift and other holiday favorites at The Christmas Show at Stafford Centre. Tickets start at $59; two VIP experience packages are available for $150 or $250. 8pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long. Click here to scroll up and see our list.
Friday, December 5, 2014
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See your ad here Watershed Holiday Market in EaDo | FREE to attend – Enjoy arts and crafts, live entertainment, tons of vendors and free yoga at the Watershed Holiday Market. 10am to 4pm.
- Skate with Santa at Discovery Green – Bring the kids to skate with the man in the red suit at The ICE at Discovery Green. $13. 4pm to 5pm.
- 95th Annual Mayor’s Holiday Celebration at Tree Lighting at City Hall | FREE – Celebrate the holidays with Mayor Annise Parker at the annual Mayor’s Holiday Celebration and Tree Lighting at City Hall. 6pm to 8pm.
- Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves Viewing Party at the Lawn at GreenStreet | FREE – See the Rockets fend off the Timberwolves on GreenStreet’s giant 32-foot screen, while mingling with Houston Rockets Power Dancers and the basketball-loving mascot Clutch. Nearby McCormick & Schmick’s will be offering food and drink specials. 6pm to 10pm.
- Space-Aged Whiskey in an Antigravity Display + Drams of Ardbeg Supernova at Reserve 101 – See a vial of whiskey that aged in orbit around the Earth at 17,227 miles per hour, 15 times a day for 1,045 days in the International Space Stations and enjoy ultra rare $26 drams of Ardbeg Supernova. Vial on display through Sunday. 7pm to 9pm.
- Martinis & Mistletoe Houston Heights Association Winter Fundraiser – Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer and martinis, and musical entertainment at the HHA holiday cocktail party. $100. 7pm to 10pm.
- A Christmas Story Screening at Discovery Green | FREE – Cuddle up on the lawn or ice rink to watch A Christmas Story as part of the Discovery Green Friday Night Flicks series. If skating, fees apply. 7:30pm.
- Usher in Concert at the Toyota Center – Get The UR Experience when Usher performs in Downtown Houston. Tickets start at $85, but you may find cheaper or better tickets on TicketNetwork’s ticket resale site. 7:30pm.
- Preservation Hall Jazz Band at Jones Hall – Have a Creole Christmas at Jones Hall when New Orleans beloved Preservation Hall Jazz Band performs in Houston for the first time ever! Tickets start at $23. 8pm.
- Live at the Eldorado with Andre Hayward – Fill your ears and hearts with the gospel-tinged jazz of trombonist Andre Hayward as he performs at the Historic Eldorado Ballroom, a landmark destination for African-American musicians from the 1940s through the 1970s, in this performance program from Project Row Houses. $20 in advance; $25 at the door. 8pm.
- Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at The Grand in Galveston | Friday, December 5 – Grumpy old Scrooge learns a valuable Christmas lesson after being visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve. $35; discounted $12.50 to $17.50 tickets available. 8pm.
- More Great Things to Do All Weekend Long – Some of the biggest things to do in Houston this weekend are happening all weekend long. Click here to scroll up and see our list.
